Circuit controlling mechanism



Nov. 1, 1932. T. E. MURRAY 1,885,535

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MECHNISM 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 1o, 192s www Z Nov. l, 1932. T. E. MURRAY CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed NOV. lO, 1928 www f,

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CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Nov. lO, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1h! T, j 3

llllw @fw Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS E. MURRAY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK; JOSEPH BRADLEY MURRAY, THOMAS E. MURRAY, JR., AND JOHN F. MURRAY, EXECUTORS OF SAID THOMAS E. MURRAY, DECEASED, ASSIGNORS TO METROPOLITAN DEVICE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK CIRCUIT GONTROLLING MECHANISM vApplication led November 10, 1928.

1n certain prior applications of Thomas E. Murray, Jr., No. 305,677 September 13, 1928 and myself No. 310,507 October 5, 1928, there are described certain means for breaking electric circuits by passing the current through a fuse or fuses of less capacity than the load. The present application relates to similar mechanism. The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of the apparatus with replaceable fuses;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are side elevations of a main switch in different positions;

Fig. is a section on the line .5#5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective of a modification.

The current comes in by a bus 1 and goes out by a bus 2. These are on the back of a panel 3 which carries on the front a positively actuated switch member comprising pivoted switch arms 4 having iexible connections 5 with the bus 1 and actuated by a solenoid 6. At their upper ends the switch arms are connected by a cross brace 6a which carries a contact 7 for the main switch and contacts 8, 9, 10 and 11 for four fuse switches. The bus 2 has a connection 12 Fig. 1 to a Vbranch 13. At its opposite end the bus 2 is connected to a pivoted main switch blade 14.

In line with the terminals 8, 9, 10 and 11 there are pivoted terminal blades 15, 16, 17 and 18 somewhatlonger. than thek main switch blade 14. The pivoted fuse switch blades have connections 19, 20, 21 and 22 leading through a wall 23. Each of these has two branches indicated generally at 24 and 25 leading to terminals carried in the bottom of a box 26 divided into two compartments by a partition 27. On the base of each compartment is a pair of separated insulating blocks 28 and 29. The former carries terminals 30 connected to the conductors 24 and 25. The blocks 29 carry similar terminals connected to the outgoing bus 13. In each compartment there is a carrier 31 arranged to slide vertically and having its lower end adapted to enter between the blocks 28 and 29 on the Hoor of the compartment. Each carrier 31 carries four replace- Serial No. 318,384.

able fuses 32, 33, 34 and 35 (of the same or oi diiiierent capacities) to be connected into the circuits of the fuse switch blades 15, 16, 17 and 18 respectively. The fuses lead by connectors 36 to terminals 37 which when the carrier is in its lowered, service position engage the terminals 30. On the opposite side of the carrier are similar wires and terminals for engagement with the contacts of the bus 13.

rlhe carriers 31 are lifted by hand, for insertion of new fuses. Mechanism typiied by a latch 38 holds the carrier up and is released by a solenoid 39 to drop it into service position. The carriers will be operated alternately so as to have a set of new fuses ready to drop into place after the blowing of the other set.

By the arrangement of Fig. 1 the fuses are remote from the switches so that their blowing cannot atleet the devices or the operators in the room or buildi ng where the other mechanisms are located.

According to Fig. 7 the fuse switches have their connections 19, 20, 21 and 22 leading to fuses 32, 33, 34 and 35 which are mounted in a horizontal panel 40 mounted directly on the back of the vertical panel 3; the .opposite ends of the fuses having connections 41 leading to the outgoing bus 2. Vhen the 'fuses or any of them blow the fuse switches will be opened, so that the fuses may be replaced before the switches are closed.

It is important to make as wide a break as possible in the main switch quickly so as to prevent the formation of a conductive arc between the main switch terminals and also between the terminals of each of the fuse switches as it is opened. Such an arc tends to delay the blowing of the fuses and also generates a dangerous gas o1 conductive character. I have therefore arranged the main switch terminal 7 at the end ot the switch arm, the most rapidly moving part in the opening of the switch, and where the movement is at least as rapid as that of the fuse switch terminals 8, 9, 10 and 11.

As the switch arm swings outward, the breaking of the main switch causes the passing of the current successively through a diload; whereupon the fuse or fuses remaining in the circuit will blow and leave the circuit open.

Another means for ensuring a quick wide break is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The switch blade 14 is mounted in a bracket 42 on the face of the'panel 3 and is pressed upward by a spring 43 as soon as it is released from the positively actuated terminal 7, thus increasing the gap immediately. The i'use switch blades 15, 1G, 17 and 18 are similarly spring actuated when released, each in turn opening a wide gap so as to quickly throw all the current on the remaining closed fuse circuits.

The blades are reset by means of a roller 44 carried between the arms 4. The upward movement oil the blades is limited by a stop 4.5. Cams 46 are carried by the blades and, when the latter are upright, have their ends in the path of movement of the roller 44. As the latter swings towards the panel it operates the cams and brings the blades down to their operative position, see Figs. 3 and 4.

Near the end of this movement the blades engage spring latches such as 47, Figs. 5 and 6, opening the same and passing between the blades 7. Each latch then snaps over the top edge ot' its pivoted l lade and holds it against rising until the switch arm 4 has agair swung out suiiiciently to clear the end ot the swinging blade. Thus the advance of the switch arm closes and latches all the switches. And the withdrawal of the switch arm causes a quick wide break of the main switch and then of the successive fuse switches. The pivoted switch blades also are preferably rounded on their ends, which shape is the best adapted to prevent sparking as the other terminals are drawn away from such ends.

In the resetting or closing of the switches I provide for closing the main switch before closing the fuse switches, so that there cannot be any accidental blowing o the fuses. This may be effected by various means. In the case illustrated in Fig. l the terminal 7 of the main switch is made somewhat longer than the terminals 8, 9, 10 and 1l of the fuse switches, and the cams are arranged to bring all the pivoted blades down at the same rate. Therefore the blade ol the main switch. will close the circuit lirst.

The blades of the main switch may also be closed first by having the terminal 7 of thev twisting as the pair oi separated arms of Fig. 1 with the top cross piece between them. The electrical connection 5 is also less satisfactory with the single switch arm than with the double one.

Also in Fig. 7 the pivoted switch blades are spring actuated to lift them, the springs being so light that trictional engagement holds them in the contact position against the opening tendency of the springs.l For restoring them', rafter the switch has been opened, a common resetting-bar 49 is located back of the blades and just above their supporting brackets. It is mounted on the end of a rod 50 extending through the panel and actuated by a solenoid 5l,.wbich may be controlled by the movement of the switch arm or bv other means.

Various modifications maybe made byA those skilledk in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

`What I claim is:

1.V An electric circuit including in combination a switch and a branch containing a fuse through which the current passes when said switch is opened, said switch comprising two contact members, one being positively movable and the other being independently and automatically movable away from the lirst when they are separated so. as to make a quick wide break.

2. A switch. comprising two Contact members, one being positively movable andthe other being independently and automatically movable away `from the iirst when they are separated' so as to make a quick wide break, in combination with a resetter for moving the second member to position for re-engagement by the first. n

3. An electric circuit including in combination a plurality of blades of one polarity, a member of opposite polarity making contact with said blades to close the circuit, each of said blades being independently automatically movable away from saidk member to make a quick wide break when the switch is opened and a common resetter for moving all said blades to positions for closing the circuit.

4. An electric circuit including in combinaton a plurality of blades of one polarity, a member of opposite polarity making contact with said blades to close the circuit, said blades being of different lengths, so as to be released in succession when the switch is opened and each blade being automatically movable away from said member when released and means for resetting all such blades to their circuit closing positions at one operation. Y. y

5. An electric circuit including in combination a main switch, a branch containing aV Vand said useswitch having means for throwing it to open position when released and means :tor opening first said main switch and then said fuse switch, the opening movement of the main switch being at least as rapid as that of the 'fuse switch.

G. An electric circuit including a main switch, a. branch containing a fuse switch and a 'fuse tlnough which the current passes when the main switch is opened, said flue switch having means for throwing in to open position when released, and means having one movement which opens first the main switch and then releases the fuse switch and another movement which closes the switches in the saine order.

7. A switch. comprising two contact members, one being positively movable and the other being independently automatically movable away from the irst when they are separated so as to make a quick wide break in combination with means for resetting them and locking the automatically movable one in closing position.

8. An electric circuit including a main circuit and a fused branch circuit,switches in said circuits and an operating member comprising a pair of separated arms connected by a brace and carrying contacts for the main and fuse switches.

9. An electric circuit including in combination a main switch, a branch containing a fuse switch and a fuse through which the current passes when said main switch is opened, said switches being adjacent to each other and said fuses being located at a remote point with an insulating wall between the fuse and the switches.

10. A switch comprising two contact members, one being positively movable and the other having a number ot independently movable contacts positioned to be retained in contact with said movable member when the latter is in closed position, means independently to swing said independently movable contacts from contact position when said movable member is moved towards opening direction, and a cam mechanism for closing said independently .movable contacts when said positively movable member is moved to closed position.

11. A switch comprising two contact members; one being positively movable and the other having a number of independently movable contacts positioned to be retained in contact with said positively movable member when the latter is in closed position, means to swing said independently movable contacts successively and independently from contact position when said positively movable member is moved toward opening direction and a cam mechanism for closing said independently movable contacts when said positively movable member `is moved to closed position.

12. A switch comprising two Contact members, one heilig positively movable and the other having a number of independently movable contacts positioned to be retained in contact with said positively movable member when the latter is in closed position, means to swing said independently movable contacts successively from contact position when said movable member is moved toward opening direction, a cam jfor each of said independently movable contacts and cam engaging means movable with said positively movable member to move said independently movable members to contact position when said positively movable member is moved to closed position.

13. The switch oit claim 12 in which the positively movable member has a latch for engaging the independently movable contacts in contact position when said positively movable member is in closed position.

14. rllhe switch of claim 12 in which one oi" said independently movable contacts is moved to contact position prior to the others.

15. A switch comprising a positively movable member having a number oit switch engaging Contact elements, a number of independently movable contact elements engaged by the elements of said positively movable member and held from movement thereby, resiliently actingmeans to throw said contact elements quickly to open position when said movable member is moved to release said elements, said elements being released at successive positions of said movable member, and fuses connected in circuit with the later released contact elements. v

16. A switch comprising a positively movable member having a number of switch engaging contact elements, a number of independently movable contact elements engaged by the elements of said positively movable member and held from movement thereby, resiliently acting means to throw said contact elements quickly to open position when said movable member is moved to release said elements,said elements being released at successive positions of said movable member, fuses connected in circuit with the later released contact elements, and means for moving said Contact elements against said resilient means when said movable member is moved to closing position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

THOMAS E. MURRAY. 

